Friday, May 17, 2013

Theresa Caragine stepped down in April after it was revealed she had overruled staff under her supervision and failed to turn the conflicts over to a third party. Now the door has been opened for some criminal cases to be contested for use of potentially faulty test results.

Published: Thursday, May 16, 2013, 12:41 AM

Updated: Thursday, May 16, 2013, 10:17 AM

A top deputy at the medical examiner’s office who has been lauded for
her work in DNA testing resigned amid revelations that she sidestepped
lab protocol in at least two criminal cases, the Daily News has learned.

The abrupt April 19 departure of Theresa Caragine is the latest snafu
to befall the office and has already affected ongoing cases in the Bronx
and Brooklyn, according to court papers.

Hundreds of rape cases the office examined were already under review
due to potentially botched testing by lab tech Serrita Mitchell, 55, who
resigned but later denied wrongdoing.

That scandal also led to the suspension of Mecki Prinz, the office’s forensic biology director. Prinz, 55, resigned May 3.

The latest debacle has opened the door for defense lawyers to question DNA evidence in several cases.

Caragine’s actions came to light because Legal Aid Society lawyers have
been digging for details about her resignation and complex DNA testing
she oversaw, said Alan Gardner, head of Legal Aid’s DNA unit.